Other productions of 'Passion'?

[Sean2]

Posted: 8/31/10 at 2:19am

I'm going to see 'Passion' at the Donmar Warehouse in London in October. I saw the original production on Broadway but that's it. Has anyone seen other productions done elsewhere? How were they? I'm really curious how the piece has held up. Musically, it's one of my favorites.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 8/31/10 at 2:55am

I find it generally plays well, though some audiences just don't ;like or respond tot. The excellent Kennedy Center production (with Judy Kuhn as Fosca) had one of the quietest audiences I ever encountered. Were they enraptured? bored? puzzled? The man sitting next to me walked out after about 45 minutes never to return. AT the end about 1/2 the audience was on their feet applaud madly with tear s in their eyes, while the other half sat there in stony silence. That's the response PASSION generates. but I'm with you. I have loved it since the very beginning.

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 8/31/10 at 3:27am

I saw a production at the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre with Ana Gasteyer as Fosca, Kathy Voytko as Clara, and Adam Brazier as Giorgio. I really liked the staging (it was in a black box theatre). The way the characters moved around the theatre and audience was perfect for this show. From what I remember (this was from 2007), the audience really liked it.

[Sean2]

Posted: 9/4/10 at 7:46pm

Hey, thanks for sharing the info! Sorry it took so long; I was offline for awhile.

I completely forgot about Judy Kuhn doing the Kennedy Center production. I would have loved to have seen that. As you say, frontrowcentre2, 'Passion' does seem to separate the audiences. Makes me even more curious to see the production at the Donmar. I know the West End premiere years ago with Maria Friedman and Michael Ball didn't do so well.

[StageManager2]

Posted: 9/4/10 at 8:08pm

Are you familiar with the Live from Lincoln Center production from 2005, with Patti LuPone as Fosca, Michael Cerveris as Giorgio, and Audra McDonald as Clara? It's on YouTube, if not.
Here's Part 1

[binau]

Posted: 9/4/10 at 8:25pm

I can't remember if I've said this before, but I would like to see PASSION with a smoking-hot Giogio.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJ75pn0KOb8

The show would be truly challenging if it could get us to believe he could love Fosca (though apparently Sondheim was convinced when he saw the source-movie above. [Trying to find the DVD of it]).

I can fathom that Cerveris!Giorgio would fall in love with Patti!Fosca.

[Felm_heart]

Posted: 9/4/10 at 9:37pm

Does some kind of soundboard or something exist of the LuPone version? Not just the videos on YouTube, but something that could .. say, go into iTunes. Hypothetically, of course.

On an unrelated note: It is always very nice to get PMs.......

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 9/4/10 at 9:46pm

Or contact someone who recorded it when it was on TV and request a
DVD copy. (*hint*)

[DANLOW]

Posted: 9/4/10 at 11:00pm

In 1996 at Signature's old garage, Eric Schaeffer directed Lewis Cleale, Anne Kanengeiser and April Harr Blandin in a beautifully sung, unforgettable production.
Ben Brantley Review

[Theatreboy49]

Posted: 9/5/10 at 2:45am

chinkie azn jai, i too liked that prodution. A coworker of mine was Fosca's understudy on that show.